Flat-screen LCD and plasma televisions are all the buzz these days, but the old cathode-ray tube isn't about to give up without a fight. Given that the technology behind CRT televisions is over 100 years old, it's not surprising that it's undergone a tremendous amount of refinement in that time, culminating in the Samsung slim TV design. CRTs might not have the same crisp picture as LCD and plasma screens, but they are usually superior when it comes to brightness, contrast and motion.

Samsung's TX-R3080WH features a big 76cm widescreen, but the whole unit is only 40cm deep. This still means it occupies more space than one of the latest fl at-screen TVs, but it takes up considerably less room than older big-screen CRT TVs. It also has a high-definition digital tuner built in, so you don't need to buy an extra set-top box to get the best possible picture. So if you're not quite ready to fork over a few thousand dollars for a high-definition LCD TV, then the trusty old CRT technology might be worth a long, hard look, preferably while something good is on.